Grinding machine



March 29, 1932. H. L. CROWLEY GRINDING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l J r BY az o (hi TTO NEY8.

March 29, 1932. Y 1,851,566

GRINDING MACHINE- Filed May 1. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Ham L. Crawly.

Patented Mar. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY L. CROWLEY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGN OR TO HENRY L. CROWLEY &; CO. INC., OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY GRINDING MACHINE Application filed ma 1, 1931. Serial No. 534,201.

This invention relates in general to improvements in grinding machines, particularly of the type known as eenterless grinders.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved form of centerless v grinding machine which is considerably simpler in construction than the present forms of centerless grinding machines now in use.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a eenterless grinder in which the grinding wheels do not necessarily have to run at different speeds as is the case with present machines but which may be run at the same or different speeds.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a centerless grinding machine structure adapted for continuous operation upon shapes other than cylinders.

A further object of this invention is the provision in a machine of this type of grinding wheels which are mounted on fixed axes and which need not be moved with respect to each other except to provide for wear of wheels and adjustment for work of diflerent sizes.

A still further object of this invention is the provision in a centerless grinding machine of this nature of a structure in which forms and shapes may be continuously ground.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a machine of this nature in which forms and shapes may 'be ground in a continuous operation resulting in a reduction in the cost of the product.

Agstill further object of this invention is to provide a eenterless grinder which will grind cylinders for example on centers with a center hole passing therethrough even though the articles be ofi center at the beginning of the grinding operations.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this type which i will grind cylinders for example with a hole which is off center in the finished product.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a machine in which the articles to be ground are introduced to the grinding wheels in a direction parallel with the direction of rotation of the grinding wheels.

A still further object is to provide a machine which will turn out articles having an improved surface finish.

These and other objects as will appear from the following disclosure are secured by means of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement and relative location of parts, all as will be described in greater detail below.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure l is a side elevational view of the machine of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 13 is a detailed view of the. spindle guide;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 o'fFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view of the endless carrier and the spindles mounted thereon;

Figs. 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 are end and side views of articles which may be ground on the machine of this invention.

Fig. 10 isa. diagrammatic view showing the relative positions of the axes of the grinding wheels and the work carrying spindles.

Figs. 11 to 14 are plan and elevational views of other shapes which may be ground on a machine of this invention.

Present forms of eenterless grinding machines are relatively expensive and complicated and have the particular disadvantage that they are not adapted for continuous operation but operate more or less intermittently, for example, in grinding tapers with the present machines it is usual to insert the pieces from above the grinding wheels supporting it on a bar and to move one of the grinding wheels back away from the other to provide the proper spacing while introducing the work. The movable wheel is then operated by a quick operating lever to bring it back into the proper spacing with respect to the other grinding wheel. This makes for intermittent operation of the machine. In true eenterless grinding a straight cylinder can only be ground by feeding the piece between the grinding wheels in a direction wheels.

In the usual types of centerless grinders now in use, it is necessary to have one of the wheels rotating more rapidly than the other.

The general object of this invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive centerless grinding machine which has none of the above disadvantages.

The nature of the machine of this invention will best be understood by detail reference to the drawings.

The machine comprises a base or bed plate 1 supported on standards or legs 2. One set of legs has the transverse arms 3 thereon in which is journaled a shaft 4 on which is mounted the wheel or drum 4 for rotation therewith. Mounted on the base plate 1 are the supports or journal bearings 5 in which is journaled a shaft 6 having secured thereto a drum or wheel 6. The two drums 4 and 6 are rounded in vertical alignment and have mounted on them for rotation thereby the endless belt 7 which may be made preferably of a band of thin steel. Securedto the band carrier 7 at spaced intervals are the blocks 8 into which are secured and from which project the spindles 9. Secured to the shaft 4 is a pulley 10 which is driven by means of the motor 10 and belt 12'.

One of the standards 5 is provided with the bracket 13 in which one end of the shaft 17 is journaled. The other end of the shaft is journaled in one of the standards 23. Secured to the shaft 17 is a wheel 14 which may be made of any suitable material such as rubber or felt or may be a grinding wheel. At 15 are standards in which is journaled for rotation a shaft 16 and upon which is secured the grinding wheel 16. The other end of the shaft 16 is journaled in the other standard 23. Shafts 17 and 16" are provided with pulleys 22 and 21 respectively, between which extends the endless belt 18. Shaft 16" is also provided with the pulley 20 which is driven by means of the belt 19 and a similar pulley mounted on the shaft of motor 10. At 24 is a slotted plate which may be locked in various positions by means of a bolt 27. The plate 24 is provided with upright 25 on which are formed the parallel ribs 30. The plate, upright and-ribs are adjustable back and forth in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the spindles 9. The distance between the webs 30 is just suflicient to let the end of the spindles slide down therebetween. The upper ends of these webs are rounded as indicated at 31 in Fig. 3 to insure the entry of the ends of spindles 9 between the webs. At 26 are two plates from which extend the bars 26 in a vertical direction parallel to the webs 30. The plates 26 may be preferably made in one piece and also longitudinally adjustable so that they may be moved in alignment with the webs 30 for the various positions there of. The first plate is provided with openings 1 in the proper position to let the endless belt 7 and the parts mounted therein, pass therethrough.

Two forms which may be ground on this machine are indicated on Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive. The form A. which is ground to a cylindrical form may be ground with a hole B. therethrough in the center or in the case of the piece C. the hole may beofl center as indicated at D.

The machine of this invention is particularly adapted to grind shapes and tapers, for example with suitably formed grinding wheels, the shapes E. and F. in Figs. 11 to 14 may be ground thereon in continuous op eration.

The device of this invention will either produce finished products to the form shown in these figures or may be adjusted to take a piece of the form in Figs. 8 and 9 and grind it to the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 with the hole at the center.

In the operation of this machine with thi motor running, the belt 7 will move continuously around the pulleys 4 and 6 at the proper speed. At the same time, the grinding wheels 14 and 16 will be revolving. It should be noted here that in this machine it is immaterial whether the two grinding wheels 14 and 16 revolve at the same speed or at dilferent speeds. In addition, the wheel 14 as already stated, need not necessarily be a grinding wheel. The operator stands to the left of the machine and slips the work to be ground on to the spindles 9 as indicated in Fig. 5. As the spindle with the work thereon approachesthe grinding wheels, the spindle passes into the guide before the work engages with the grinding'wheel, thus, the spindle will pass down between the vertical guides 26 and the end of the spindle Wlll pass down between the webs 30.

The work then continues to move down' until it engages with the grinding wheels and is fed between them at the proper rate to per: mit the grinding down of the surface. Of course where conical shapes are to be ground, the grinding wheels will have the shape shown in figures. If the cylinder is to be ground the bases of the grinding wheels will be at right angles to the sides.

This machine will also grind other shapes which are figures of revolution. The spindle 9 may be adjusted transversely of the axes of the grinding wheels as indicated in Fig. 10. If desired, of course, vertical guides 26 need not be used permitting more flexibility Ill in the positioning of the spindles 9. By

be ground so that in the finished product the apparent that the hole is off center. With this machine it is rinding operatlons may be carried out contlnuously and the axes of the grinding wheels are'fixed and do not have to be mounted on movable mechanism as is the case with some present machines of this nature. It is apparent that the machine 1s relatively simple in structure and hence, 1nexpensive to manufacture. In' addition t 1s capable of a numberof different operatlons and may be operated by unskilled labor. It is of course apparent to those skilled in the art that the actual form of the machine may be varied without departing from the prin ciples involved in the invention. In addition the various driving pulleys and parts may be so proportioned in size that the machine will operate at the proper speed.

Since this machine may be embodied 1n other physical forms without departure from the principles of construction and operation, I do not desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given for purpose of illustration but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

What I seek to secure by United States so that the spindles pass therebetween and Letters Patent is:

1. A centerless grinding machlne comprls- I ing a movable, transversely shiftable, carrier upon which the work to be ground may be mounted,-a grinding wheel mounted at a point adjacent to the carrier so that the carrier is free to shift transversely when the wheel engages the work as the carrier moves and means for operating the carrier and the grinding wheel. a

2. In a centerless grinding machine of the type described, thecombination with an endless carrier supported for free movement transversely to its direction of travel and means thereon for supporting articles to be ground, of grinding wheels mounted adjacent to the path of travel of the endless belt so as to be engaged by the articles to be ground, mounted thereon and means for moving the endless belt and the grinding wheels.

3. In a centerless grinder for continuously grinding forms, the combination comprising spaced rotatable supports, an endless belt mounted on said supports, work supporting spindles secured to the endless belt, grinding means arranged adjacent to the path of travel of the spindles and means for moving the endless belt and the grinding wheels.

4. In a continuously operable centerless grinding machine, the combination comprisingan endless carrier, means for movably supporting the carrier, a plurality of work holding devices mounted on the carrier, a pair of grinding wheels rotatably supported adjacent to carrier so that the work supporting device may pass therebetween, said carrier being transversely movable with respect to its path of travel adjacent the grinding wheels and means for effecting rotation of the grinding wheels.

5. In a continuously operable centerless grinding machine, the combination comprising an endless carrier, means for movably supporting the carrier, 'said carrier being transversely movable with respect to its path of travel between the supports, a plurality of work holding devices mounted on the carrier, a pair of grinding Wheels rotatably supported adjacent to carrier between the supports so that the work supporting device may pass therebetween and move transversely, guiding means mounted adjacent to grinding wheels for guiding the work holding devices transversely with respect to the grinding wheels and means for operating the carrier and the grinding wheels.

6. In a continuously operable centerless grinding machine, the combination comprising spaced pulleys rotatably supported, an endless carrier mounted on said pulleys, a plurality of work receiving spindles secured to the carrier, two rotatable wheels, one of which is a grinding wheel supported one on each side of the path of travel of the-spindles means for operating said parts.

7 In a continuously operable centerless grinding machine, the combination comprising spaced pulleys rotatably supported, an endless carrier mounted on said pulleys, a plurality of work receiving spindles secured to the carrier, two rotatable wheels, one of which is a grinding wheel supported one on each side of the path of travel of the spindles so that the spindles pass therebetween, guide means engageable by the spindles as they approach past between and leave the said wheels and means for rotating said pulleys and wheels.

8. In a machine of the type described, the

combination comprising a support, spaced rotatable pulleys mounted on said support, an endless carrier extending around said pulleys, a plurality of means on said carrier for rotatably supporting articles to be ground, grinding wheelsrotatably supported one on each side of the path of travel of said carrier and means at the straight line portion of their travel and means for rotating the pulley and wheels.

9. In a device of the type described, the

wheels mounted adjacent to the path of travel of the carrier, and adjustable guides engageable by the spindles as they pass the grinding wheels for predetermining the path of travel of the spindles adjacent the grinding wheels.

11. In a continuous centerless grinding machine, the combination comprising a flexible endless carrier mounted on spaced rotatable supports so that a portion thereof travels in a straight line, said carrier being transversely movable at the portion thereof, travelling in a straight line, a pair of wheels at least one of which is a grinding'wheel, rotatably mounted adjacent the portion of the carrier, travelling in a straight line, the axis of rotation of the wheels being at right angles to the carrier and a plurality of Work holders mounted on said carrier so as to move the work along a straight line path between said wheels.

12. In a continuous centerless grinding machine, the combination comprising a flexible endless carrier mounted on spaced rotatable supports so that a portion thereof travels in a straight line, said carrier being transversely movable at the portion thereof, travelling in a straight line, a pair of wheels at least one of which is a grinding wheel, rotatably mounted adjacent the portion of the carrier, travelling in a straight line, the axis of rotation of the wheels being at right angles to the carrier and a plurality of work holders mounted on said carrier so as to rotatably support the work articles 011 an action of rotation parallel to the axes of rotation of the Wheel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 29th day of April, A. D.

' HENRY L. CROWLEY. 

